Bought, tested- impressed!(sorry lidl's links- site is useless, basically you'd have to go to the store own-self Edit: Gkains link:While that is true for the UK site, for some reason Lidl.de have pretty much the full range of 'specials' on their site 24/365. I think they run some kind of online shop:lidl.de/de/…982? )

Called Solar Charger- external battery pack.Specified Input via USB 5V- 0.5A (nonsense, as I use plug USB charger of 2A- nothing burned and re'charged in 1 hr!)Output specified 5V-1A (yup- works like dream, charged up my 3400Mah phone battery from 18% to 92% in 1.5 hrs, dont ask how, as 2200Mah mathematically shouldn't have given so much (74% of 3400 would mean 25160MaH ?...)Used with my DashCam (really power hungry) in the car- recording was almost 4Hrs, before it clunked out. (I believe capacity of 2200+Mah is genuine, unlike 99% of Chinese branded (unbranded) batteries)Once recharged, 24hrs later still indicated to be 100% charge (hold charge by itself)Solar charge (top-up) didn't test, but expect to be invaluable! as IE camping or even driving to work and just leaving on a dash for emergency to top up, also decent suckers included, with some bulky-useless quick release bracket's... maybe, in a banger, it would be good enough look? also suckers aren't strong enough to hold own weight)Size... small compared to my phone, appears to be mediocre quality case, but certainly has functionality of "premium" batteries chargers!More photos:i.imgur.com/in6…jpgi.imgur.com/gw2…jpgi.imgur.com/zk7…jpgi.imgur.com/ZHZ…jpgi.imgur.com/LOk…jpgi.imgur.com/ooB…jpgi.imgur.com/Vlc…jpg

Upload them to a site like imgur and just put the links in your post. HTH.

Original Poster

25th May 2015

repouk

Upload them to a site like imgur and just put the links in your post. HTH.

Done, leave it down to you as how to make them to appear on this site on main post, as on edited first post they dont load upThanks!

25th May 2015

Mines being returned tomorrow. Had it for 2 days and its no longer charging.

25th May 2015

Atasas

(sorry lidl's links- site is useless, basically you'd have to go to the … (sorry lidl's links- site is useless, basically you'd have to go to the store own-self)

While that is true for the UK site, for some reason Lidl.de have pretty much the full range of 'specials' on their site 24/365. I think they run some kind of online shop:lidl.de/de/…982?

Edited by moderator: "May 25, 2015 19:46" 25th May 2015

25th May 2015

stuarthanley

Mines being returned tomorrow. Had it for 2 days and its no longer … Mines being returned tomorrow. Had it for 2 days and its no longer charging.

Not enough sunlight? Tried the mains?

25th May 2015

veedubjai

Not enough sunlight? Tried the mains?

Orange solar light has been on all day. Panel has been in the conservatory, charging, for 8+ hours. Just tried to use it and the 25% light flashes very dimly and then it shuts off.Will return it and try another one.

25th May 2015

stuarthanley

Orange solar light has been on all day. Panel has been in the … Orange solar light has been on all day. Panel has been in the conservatory, charging, for 8+ hours. Just tried to use it and the 25% light flashes very dimly and then it shuts off.Will return it and try another one.

Even the packaging is crap for something like this especially the panel part is so close to the outer packaging. One drop on hard surface & the panel could be cracked. Is the panel glass or plastic?

Original Poster

25th May 2015

veedubjai

Hmmm...could be faulty battery, solar panel or circuits. I don't usually … Hmmm...could be faulty battery, solar panel or circuits. I don't usually rate SilverCrest goods tbh.Even the packaging is crap for something like this especially the panel part is so close to the outer packaging. One drop on hard surface & the panel could be cracked. Is the panel glass or plastic?

Flimsy sticker like plastic, dropping wouldn't destroy it, I think, but cheapness- yeah, there is that sort of a feel to it- I agree!

25th May 2015

Atasas

Flimsy sticker like plastic, dropping wouldn't destroy it, I think, but … Flimsy sticker like plastic, dropping wouldn't destroy it, I think, but cheapness- yeah, there is that sort of a feel to it- I agree!

Just what I thought. I tend to find that solar panels works far more efficiently & harder with glass than some cheap low grade plastics. Thinks it's to do with how the sunlight hits the solar panel via the glass part at the best angle at maximum efficiency but I'm no solar energy expert. I do know that solar panels can come in many diff grades & quality though. Even my small pocket calculator has a tiny solar glass panel. oO

Edited by: "veedubjai" 25th May 2015

25th May 2015

The solar panel on something like this should be considered to be a gimmick, not a viable way to charge it.

If the capacity is 2200mAH at 3.7 volts, then it stores about 8 Watts of energy and so to charge it in 8 hours would need a panel rated at 1W. A 1W panel would be roughly the same area as an A5 sheet of paper. It's difficult to get an idea of exact scale from the photos or description, but this looks significantly smaller than that. I'd take a guess a full charge from the solar panel would need several days of bright sunshine.

25th May 2015

If that's the case, I'm out on this.

Slightly off topic but would be nice to see some sort of small solar panel on cars integrated on the roof to top-up the battery when the car is parked idle doing nothing most of the time during the day. Come to think of it, what happens to the battery if full when the car is moving? Where does the extra charge go to via the alternator?

Original Poster

25th May 2015

Right, whilst on-site experts near proven solar panel feature to be useless- I'll do a test and post after work as how much it will charge from being flat in 7hrs time, when car is parked upas for charge on a go, it does have USB "B" to USB "Micro" cable, one would need 12v Power socket adapter to USB charger (I have one rated 1.5A)All (solar performance and quality appearance) aside, based on REAL capacity/PRICE and performance as battery, I am happy with it regardless so far.

Edited by: "Atasas" 25th May 2015

25th May 2015

veedubjai

Slightly off topic but would be nice to see some sort of small solar … Slightly off topic but would be nice to see some sort of small solar panel on cars integrated on the roof to top-up the battery when the car is parked idle doing nothing most of the time during the day. Come to think of it, what happens to the battery if full when the car is moving? Where does the extra charge go to via the alternator?

Again it would be a gimmick, it would only be of use for cars that are left idle for weeks at a time just to keep the battery topped up and in good condition. The energy used from the battery start a car (which has to be replaced from the alternator), makes the tiny extra amount you'd get from a solar panel insignificant.

The car alternator only generates the amount of power needed to run the electrics in the car and charge the battery. There is no extra to go anywhere. If it doesn't need to generate much electricity, it doesn't load the engine very much. When you need a lot of electrical power (for the lights, rear window demister, or the heater blower motor), then it takes more power from the engine and converts it to electricity.

If you covered the entire roof of a car with solar panels you'd get about 100W in direct sunlight (less than the theoretical amount as it wouldn't usually be pointing directly at the sun!). A typical alternator on a small car will output well over 1000W, bigger cars can be over 2000W. So like the solar panel on this battery, it'll help top it up but it's nowhere nearly big enough to handle all the electrical requirements.

25th May 2015

Been to Lidl myself today and nearly bought one of these , but it stated it had a 3.7v internal battery . So, that put me off . I might be wrong but I would have thought it needed a more powerful battery to push out 5v at 1mAh.

26th May 2015

what's this guy talking about?

26th May 2015

Do any of these solar chargers actually work in the UK? How long will it take to charge this battery pack?There's not enough direct sunlight to generate enough electricity to charge power hungry devices like smartphones.I like the idea but the only thing we can charge here are battery packs for LED lights it seems...(note: haven't got a solar charger myself, will get one in case a cloudy sky can charge the internal battery within 2 days)

26th May 2015

I'm imagining the wind turbine version of this; it has what looks like a PC case fan on the end of it.

26th May 2015

Returned it this morning. It had sat in my conservatory for 3 days in sunlight (not direct but shouldn't need it). Switched it on this morning and it gave about 20 seconds of charge before failing.Useless.

26th May 2015

If we had even a4 sized solar panels on our cars, our car batteries would last twice as long. think of the environmental benefits

Original Poster

26th May 2015

Hi chaps,I know its is not a scientific proof or measurement.Parked my car in the morning (it was cloudy), it still had 25% charge remaining. I'd say out of almost 8hrs half of that time it stayed in sunlight~4hrs maxOn the way back to drive back and it shown between 50% and blinking 75%, so it had topped itself up between 25-50% or lets be sensible lets say 1/3 of 2200mAh ~ 710 mAh, that was enough for me to have my DashCam plugged in for 50 minute drive back home and it is still showingl to have 25% (solid light remaining)Say whatever you like, figures stated here don't make sense as what happens in practical terms.Talking further about Solar chargers and figures not much making sense as what experts say and what really is happening...., also, my car Alternator (1.8l petrol) is rated 400w, not 1000w

Anyway, just plugged back on charge on my USB split charger (this one hardly charges my new phone, as It's rated to be 1A), will see, how long it will take to recharge normally.

Original Poster

26th May 2015

stuarthanley

Returned it this morning. It had sat in my conservatory for 3 days in … Returned it this morning. It had sat in my conservatory for 3 days in sunlight (not direct but shouldn't need it). Switched it on this morning and it gave about 20 seconds of charge before failing.Useless.

You clearly did the right thing- battery you had- dud!

Original Poster

26th May 2015

plap

Do any of these solar chargers actually work in the UK? How long will it … Do any of these solar chargers actually work in the UK? How long will it take to charge this battery pack?There's not enough direct sunlight to generate enough electricity to charge power hungry devices like smartphones.I like the idea but the only thing we can charge here are battery packs for LED lights it seems...(note: haven't got a solar charger myself, will get one in case a cloudy sky can charge the internal battery within 2 days)

it works!I'd say, if I had it in direct sunlight for full 2 days- it would have charged up fully! here's what manual says:(22-30hrs)

Original Poster

26th May 2015

thingy got me going now and I can not find more expert like review for the B1 model, only for the older A1 modelhttp://www.ittsb.eu/forum/index.php?topic=912.0